The lightning was as consistent as a strobe light, and when I lifted my sleep mask I could see my husband's face across from me being illuminated every other second. We had hiked and canoed into the wilderness and we were the only people on this remote lake, camping in our little 2 person tent on an island…and now at 1AM a massive storm surrounded us. The thunder was rolling across the sky like waves, and the downpour had found the flap on top of the tent we neglected to close and the water was leaking in, dripping on my hand which was clasping my husbands.
Usually when camping we will ride out big thunderstorms in the car due to the risk of falling trees, but our car was 8 miles away. There was nowhere else to go. Or was there? Since I could not physically escape and had literally no control over what was washing over and around me, I decided to enter the one place I knew I would find the peace and safety I craved: the throne room.
The fastest way to get rid of fear is to praise God. So I began by singing. “Peace, be still, You are here so it is well, even when my eyes can’t see, I will trust the voice that speaks peace over me”. When the thunder increased its tempo, I turned on my worship playlist and started blasting my praise songs as I sang along with Lauren Daigle. “I’m not gonna be afraid, I’m not gonna fear the storm”...
Praise is an important part of our new identity in Christ, but we often forget its power. And let me tell you - it is stronger than a giant storm assaulting my tiny tent. Here at COBI we are all familiar with the first part of Isaiah 61:3 where God bestows on us a crown of beauty instead of ashes. But do you know what else you’ve been given along with the crown? He gives us the mantle (garment) of joyous PRAISE instead of a spirit of heaviness, or despair. Praise!!! We are clothed in it! Isaiah goes on to say that “Because of this, they will be known as Mighty Oaks of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh as a living display of his glory.” Wow.
When we put on the garment of praise that Christ has provided for us instead of the despair that the circumstances may dictate, we are a living display of God’s glory! Let that sink in.
So as I lay there in the growling thunder and blinding lightning, mopping up water with my sweatshirt and singing in the rain like Gene Kelly, the peace I felt was a testament to the power of my God and the power of praising Him!
Praise drowns out fear, heaviness and despair. It's the ultimate spiritual raincoat. We can trade these dark circumstances anytime for peace and the strength of a mighty oak of righteousness, simply by entering into worship.
May you be blessed this week as you praise our beautiful, powerful God and find that you stand taller and stronger - planted by Yahweh himself to withstand any storm.
- Kelly Joyce (a contributing member of the COBI community. Find more of her writings at Triumphantly.net)
Comments